Auto jack



. J. THOMAS.

AUTO JACK.

APPLICATION man MAR. s. 1920.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

LO 2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

A TTORNE Y.

W. J. THOMAS.

AUTO JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1920.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v IN VENTOR MLTZRJ moms A TTORNE Y 1 UNITEDST'ATES WALTER J. THOMAS, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

MODESTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF r0 Leann W,

DAVIS, or MODESI'O, c LIronNIA.

j' AUTO JACK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, .VVALTER J. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Modesto, in the county'of Stanislaus and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Auto Jacks, of which the following is a specification. 'i

This invention relates to an auto jack and especially to a jack which is sufliciently large to receive an entire machine and ca;- pable of lifting either end thereof.

Insome private, and in most public garagesit is customary to employ pits or the like over which the 'machines are run when they are to be inspected, repaired or other wise. Most garages are only equipped with one pit and it happens that the machine to ,be repaired is partly taken down, it is obvious that other m'achinesrequiring only minor attention will have. to wait until the machine occupying the pit is completed and removed. Other garages again employ lowwooden racks .onwhich the mechanics lie and" work themselves under the automobiles. This method and also the pit method is exceedingly objectionable for, the reason that the mechanics are in a cramped. and diflicult position and generally without sufficient light.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple substantial frame or jack adaptedlfor use in garages and like places which may be moved about to any convenient position and which is so constructed that the vehicle can be readily run upon the jack and then becometilted end-Z wise to. a suitable height so that ready access to the lower or underneath portio of the vehicle may be had.

Another obj ect of theinvention is to provide a screw actuated lifting mechanism whereby comparatively heavy vehicles may be readily and quicklylifted bya single operator, and to provide means for securing the vehicle both against lateral and endwise movement on the jack frame when in tilted position. I I

Further objects will hereinafter. appear. The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrange p ment of parts as hereinafter more fully dey Specification of Letters Patent. J Patented A1313 18 1922;

Application filed March 3, 1920. Serial No. 362,931.

scribed and clain'ied, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Fig. 1 "is a side elevationof the jack showing an automobile in position thereon. Fig. 2 Visa detail. view of the crank lever andthe reversible pawls carried thereby,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the jack. Fig. 41- is a cross section'on line i --11. Fig. 3. I Referring to the drawings in detaihA indicates a base frame and, B a tilting frame. The tilting frame is pivotally attached to the base frame'A as at 2, and may therefore be elevateduor tilted to assume the dotted line position 'indicatedat C. The base frame is constructed of any suitablematerial, either wood or metal, while the tilting frame is constructed of a pair {ofchannel iron track members 3, which are secured and held'inspac'ed relation by means of cross barsxl, The base The spacing between the suit autos of different sizes and length, for.

instance a standard form of ack may be employed forsmaller machines and anotherv size for machines o-fa larger; type, The

forward ends of the track members are bent downwardly as at 7 to permit the front and rear wheels of an auto; to easily enter the track members 3, and the rear ends of the trackmembers are bent upwardly as'at 8 to-form a stop whichwill secure the auto against endwise movement when in tilted position. I g p For the purpose of tilting the frame-B a screw jack mechanism generally indicated at D has been provided. Tllls mechanism consists of a pair of. screw rods 9, one'positioned on each sideof the-frame. These screw rods are pivotally mounted as at 10 in bracket members and may therefore assume" an angular position as the frame B is lifted or tilted. The rods 9are supported a pair of worm wheels 14.

are internallythreaded to litthe screw rods, 4) and therefore serve the function. oflilitby the base frame A, while a cross shaft ll is supported and journalled in thetilting frame B. This shaft has a worm gear 12 secured at each end which intermeshcs with These wheels .ing nuts as will hereinafter be described. he gears M are journalled between the lugs 15' carried by the tilting frame, saidlugs beingjdisposed aboveand undereach gear "or nut'to prevent GIlQl'WlSQ movement of the same with relation to" the "tilting frame. Y I

T urnably mounted on one end of the shaft 1]. is ah'and crank- 16,-an'd secured on the shaft, on each side of said CI&Ilk,'3IQ ratchet gears 17. The teeth on-the ratchet gears are h reversedwith relation to each other-and two p'awls 18 are'therefore carried by the crank arm tQfpermit engagement with either ratchet'gear; For instancewith an auto in position on the framevwhen' it assumes a horizontalposition; it is only; necessary to throw one of the pawls into engagement with one of the ratchets 17. The crankarm is then oscillated by the operator untilthe tilting frame assumes a position where a complete tilting" movement may be imparted to the cranlrarm' and the shaft. The turning movement transmitted to;the 'shaftfll is in turn transmitted"through the worms '12 to the gears 1e and as these are internally threaded and engage the threads of the screw rods 9, it is obvious that they will gradually climb the-rods and'consequently lift'the tiltg ing frame to any position desired, the screw jack being locked in any position due to the fact-that'reverse movement of the worm gear transmission employed cannot take place except by power transmitted thereto through the crank arm. Therefore when it is desired to lower the tilting frame it is only necessary to disengagethe pawl last employedand to engage the opposite "pawl and then to turn the 'shaftll in the opposite direction. This of course 'reversestheturning novement of the gears 14' andtherehy permits the-same to descend on 'the screw rods and thereby lower the frame. "The pawls 18 may be constructed in any suitable manner but preferably as here shown as the 'slotted'extension l9 and the spring 20fem ployed, permits the pawl to be held in engagement by spring tension or to be held out of engagement "with spring ;-'tension.

This isdesirable as it will. prevent one pawl from interfering with theotherwhe'n rais' ing or lowering the tilting fram'ef, 1

Y A; jack or tilting frame constructed as here shown is exceedingly simple in construction and as it lies flat; it is obvious that it can be v readily pulled abouta garage andplaced wherever convenient for instance near a window'whereplenty of light maybe had when working on a machine. Severaljacks of the charar-tcr here shown may be employed by one garage and as they may bemoved about to suit varying conditions, it is obvious that one or more machines may be worked upon at one time, this being of great-advantage when compared with the pit as most garages seldom employ more-than one pit and can therefore only work on one machine at a;

time. The mechanic is furthermore cramped when working under such conditions and lighting conditions are seldom favorable.

. The present-jack permitstilting of the maeither end; of the machine as the front wheels are brought into engagement: with the stop 8 when the rear endfis to be worked on, and

conversely the machine is backed'upon the frame when it is desired to work on the engine or the front'end of the machine. The

jack is not'onlyauseful for repairing, inspection or otherwiseybut may befemployed to great advantage when-painting.

VVhile' a more "or lle'sshspecific striicture is shown; Iwish it 'iin'derstood.that: various changes iii design "and 'pr'oportioiifmay be resorted to within the scope of; the' app en'ded claims, similarly th-at"the "materials vand finish'of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment o'fgthe manufacturer may dictate or varyingcondition s may demand. i j

Having th'usdescribed my inventionywhat 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters' Pat ent is 19111 a device of the character described a'base frame, a tiltingframe, a pair of track members on'the tilting frame for. t he'reception of an automobile, a pivotal connection between the base frame and? the' tiltin'g frame, a pair ofs'crew' rods pivotally-mou nt ed one on each side of the maritime pair of brackets on each side of the tilting frame, a nut on each screw rod positioned between said brackets, a shaft extending crosswise of the tilting frame'and journalled therein, a worm' gear exterior of each nut," a pair of worm gears on the shaft one engag'eable withea ch first named worm, and means for imparting a turning movement to the shaft in either direction to ermine connected worms and nuts upon the screw rods'in either direction. g p '1 2. In a device of the character described a base frame a tilting frame, a pair of track members on the tilting frame for the recep i 30 tion ofan automobile, apivotal connection between the base frame and the tilting frame,

a pair of screw rods pivotally mounted one on each slde of the base frame, a pan oi brackets on each side of the tilting frame, a

nut on each screw rod positioned between V said brackets, a shaft extending crosswise of the tilting frame and journalled therein, a Worm gear exterior of each nut, a pair of a pair of reverse ratchet gears secured .on the shaft one on each side of the crank arm, a pair of pawls carried by the crank arm one for each ratchet, and means for holding either pawl in or out of engagement with its respective ratchet. I Intestimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses; v V V WVALTER J. THOMAS. v .lVitneSses: e

- YA.B. SHEEMAK, V W. D. CHASTAIN. 

